What He Who Doesn't Believe in Fate Says Vol. 1

運命を信じない彼が言うには [Unmei wo Shinjinai Kare ga Iu ni wa] #1

by Omu the Rice

Kosuke can see the "red string of fate" that connects soulmates. Unfortunately, he's fallen in love with Yuka and her string clearly doesn't lead to him. He hides his feelings for her, until one day a fortune teller lets Yuka know her destined lover is nearby -- and she thinks it's Kosuke! Could this finally be the windfall for Kosuke's unrequited love? Can he stop destiny?!

Genres: Manga, Romance, Comics, Paranormal, Contemporary, Shojo, Comics Manga

152 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 20, 2023

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kosuke can see the red string of destiny that connects fated lovers, but he doesn’t believe in fate, while his old college friend, Yuka, certainly does. And that makes sense, because her string isn’t tied to him and Kosuke is nursing a huge crush that she wouldn’t notice if it smacked her beer out of her hands.

I’ve seen refurbished tires that had less retreading than this manga, which tips over into my ‘good enough, but only just’ category by the end of things for reasons I’ll expound on in a bit.

Otherwise this feels hopelessly like every ‘childhood friend’ story, except they’re college friends and working adults. I will do this story a solid and not compare it to the definitive working adult romance, Sweat & Soap, but it sure exists in its shadow.

And I can really take or leave these red string stories. I don’t think this is doing the whole red string gimmick any better than If You Could See Love did, though that was a yuri title. This isn’t utterly bad, just uninspired - it’s a gimmick in search of a story, rather than the other way around, at times.

Kosuke seems to rail against fate, but not necessarily by doing anything about it. He’s basically Yuka’s best friend, but that doesn’t seem to be giving her any ideas until a third party decides to say the quiet part loud, and he’s too chicken to move himself. Also, I tell you for no money that if I was able to see strings connecting people together I would probably believe in at least something, or suspect myself of having a psychotic episode.

Part of my problem is that I don’t think much of Yuka as a character, whose unwavering belief in fate has left her without a boyfriend (but looking for one, so it’s not like she’s disinterested) into her late 20s. That’s one of those manga tropes that grinds my teeth, like these women have to be kept ridiculously pure or something.

I do like the general vibe of Kosuke and Yuka together, that being said, and them just kicking back and drinking probably makes for the most enjoyable parts of the book. It’s not like they’d make a bad couple, or anything.

It just feels thrown together really weirdly. Yuka sets herself up for torment from old school friends, which at least gives Kosuke a chance to save her, so that’s something. But, while I recognize the role the fortune teller plays in the story, that whole section feels half-baked at best. Even their non-date date is just… stitched together from shojo tropes.

If anything compels me to read another volume of this, it’ll definitely be the last couple of pages, which decidedly throws the gauntlet down at the feet of the entire premise and I rather enjoyed because of its sudden, if predictable, audacity (although it doubles down in a way I appreciated).

3 stars - sure didn’t wow me, but the little sliver of potential overcomes my apprehensions and has me at least a touch curious to see if the story’s ready to really tackle its premise with some heft. But I wouldn’t read it over a long list of other romance titles.

[Jess | jadecanread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this one up right before bed and audibly gasped after reading chapter 1. (Can you tell I don't read synopses?)

I think the pacing is slow, the art is nice, and the mundane slice of life is quaint. I'm really committed to this unrequited love for three years and the little reveal at the end of the volume!

Recap: opening, he drops work to get drinks with her, reveal that he can see the red strings and theirs lead away from each other, they go to aquarium together, get each other keychains, fortune teller and then she gets weird bc he matches the teller's description, they go out together for drinks with work friends and he finds out his senpai is connected to her and he's connected to her friend.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine. The art was nice, especially the inclusion of color when it references the "red thread of fate." I just really don't like the male lead's attitude for most of this. If he doesn't believe in fate, then he shouldn't be acting like he does and giving up so easily. I think he starts to realize this at the end, so we'll see if he actually applies that to his life. The development right at the end was also interesting.

[KristynRene SwissCheese JellyBean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't dislike it, but I also didn't feel much of anything while reading this one. The art is unique and very well done, but I think it's just not for me.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the idea, and the use of one color for the red thread of fate, but I couldn't relate to the main characters.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so good!! it’s one of those manga with a single pop of color - red, to illustrate the ‘red string of fate’ that only kosuke seems to be able to see so far. this connects soulmates, with the primary issue being that it doesn’t lead to where he wants. unrequited love between friends can be so poignant and bittersweet…I am truly curious to know where this goes!! my only issue so far is that I tend to see the phrase ‘friend zone’ and my eyes roll back into my head with annoyance….luckily, it’s not said too often here, and kosuke does seem to truly care about yuka as a friend too.

[mia]

devours

[Em reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the concept of this book, which I’ve never seen before in a manga!! I did find a few things I didn’t really enjoy.

To me, the characters didn’t really feel special, they just felt very two dimensional, and I didn’t really connect to them if their stories.

The concept is a really cool idea, and I did think it’s picked up better towards the end, but at least for the beginning I just didn’t really feel much between the characters, and I also didn’t really favor the male leads attitude in the beginning (but hey maybes that’s the point?)

I will most likely pick up the second one, because it did get better and I have hope! But if this doesn’t sound like your thing then I wouldn’t spend the money on it.

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and satisfying retelling of a romance of this nature. The art style is a good choice for the eyes. I always love what merchandise looks like in manga. It was fun to see how easily impressionable the characters are. Not quite giving a "straight man- comedic man" duo vibe that way.
Spoilers:
I saw the cliff hanger coming from a mile away lol.

[{~Jo~} · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this book a half and half , I liked it but I would say it’s one of those books where you get frustrated at it for going into extra small details about things that aren’t important but then you also like it at the same time ? I’m in the middle , I will buy the next book though because …. Cliff hanger … out of 10 I would give it a 7.5

[Sequoia Cron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. The MMC sees the line of red fate connecting soulmates. He's been in love with his best friend for 3 years, but the red line doesn't connect to each other. He doesn't actually believe in fate, whereas the girl he loves does.

The artwork is good and the concept is interesting but I don't think I care enough about the characters to want to continue.

[Domini Phillips-Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed volume one of this series. You don't see the myth of the string of red fate in Manga or novels that often, so I was even more excited to read it. The means follows two friends from university who have taken into a comfortable friendship. However, fate has something more Ledbetter for them and I can not wait to read the next volume.

[Kastie Pavlik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recent surgery so reviews are late and short. This one is repetitive and has a lot of white space on the page. But I like the characters and the end hooked me enough to give book 2 a go. Read: late June or early July 2023.

[Loveleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The start of the manga felt a tad slow for me initially, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying the rest of the volume! Kousuke and Yuka are both so adorable in their own ways, I can’t wait to see what awaits them next!

[Sabs ✨️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️

Literal perfection. Loved the story. Loved the artwork. It has so much expression and detail in the art that it really brought the story alive. Throughout the story, the red string of fate is red coloured against the rest, which is all b&w. Loved loved loved 💗

[koouvi]

cute
Podoba mi się to inne podejście do przeznaczenia, zwłaszcza nadanie mu nadzwyczajnej lekkości, której nigdy jeszcze nie widziałam (rozwiązywanie od tak czerwonych nici przeznaczenia, a nawet one same rozwiązujące się przez przypadek).

[Yuna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5ish* not rounding up because it just didn't quite have anything that really excited me, but I liked it and will read the next one.

Cute, and I like the main couple's character designs a lot. I'm curious to see where it goes now that we know where the ends of the red strings of fate ended up.

[Elle D. Lemesurier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find that I really like seeing how different mangakas and authors interpret the theme of the red string of fate. So far, I love that this one is in the POV of the MMC and the twist here at the end of the volume is pretty interesting. Though, like the fortune teller says, fate often shifts.

[Snail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda cute, kinda flat…? Not super great, but not bad either. I guess I appreciate that the characters are uncertain, and their friendship. I’d like to know more about why Kousuke does like Yuka, though.

[Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for soulmate aus what can I say

[scarlettraces · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mangaka's name is worth the purchase price alone

[Ayesha Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute and the twist at the end was actually wild. Curious to read volume 1!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable. Definitely looking forward to getting the next volume. Also, I want to visit an aquarium bar like they did. That looked so cool.

[Skye (Skye's Scribblings) · Rating 2 out of 5]

8/23 Surprisingly wasn't impressed with this one, for some reason. Won't continue.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely interested to see how this plays out! I like that it’s printed such that the red strings of fate are always red.

[flavia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
a romance from the male pov? yes please
+ I am not sure how I feel about the female lead ,, she's sweet, though

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vlog: https://youtu.be/7QIn2LoTHHc

[Faeryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so adorable! 😍

[weia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute concept but getting major friendzone vibes :/ icky

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cutest manga I’ve read in a long time!